Inaugural Music?: GERSHWIN, Rhapsody in Blue

[UTUSN]

piano version. This would be for President KERRY, of course, coming up. Very American. I kneel.

[ewagner]

1. That would be nice

both PRESIDENT Kerry and Gershwin........

[Woodstock]

2. I second that

bring some class back to the White House. Out with Toby Keith, in with Gershwin.

Hell, let's really drive the freepers nuts. Make that "An American in Paris"! :)

[mike1963]

4. LOL....GMTA I guess, Wood...

:D

[Woodstock]

6. Amen!

:)

[ewagner]

9. LOL but the coup d'gras

would be to have the DIXIE CHICKS perform too.

[mike1963]

3. You can bet someone will suggest "An American in Paris"...

sheesh
:eyes:
;-)

[fortyfeetunder]

7. American in Paris: pant, pant, yeah, yeah

30 years ago this month first time played it in orchestra, loved it ever since...and I heard it today on Classical Music America...not just any Gershwin will do!

[DarkPhenyx]

5. Mmmmmmmmm, like that piece.

Yet gonna make me go dig up the CD now. :)

[mobuto]

8. No, that won't work

People will think of Kerry as the President of United Airlines.

How about Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man?

[riverwalker]

10. Yes! Copland

Yes! Coplands Appalacian Spring, sung by Judy Collins like she did in 1970.

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,
'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gain'd
To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,
To turn, turn will be our delight
'Till by turning, turning we come round right.

[tomreedtoon]

11. My father's music...

He told me he heard the original performance of the piece on the radio when he was in the Navy. He was not a music lover, he never liked jazz (or the black people that played it) but he loved that piece.

And, a few years ago, at Disney's EPCOT, they used to do their "IllumiNations" sequence lighting up each country;s pavilion in turn, playing a bit of musical anthems. They had "Rule Brittania" for England, a bit of Beethoven for Germany...but for the American Pavilion, there was that long, sweet saxophone glide of "Rhapsody in Blue."

They could have run the stuff most people call "patriotic" music, but this song represented something more than government, patriotism or any of that. It represented the people of this country.

Which is what Kerry will do, if he is elected, and which is why this music is particularly appropriate.

Of course, if Bush wins, the obvious inaugural music will be "The Imperial March" from "The Empire Strikes Back."

[kskiska]

12. My absolute favorite – Woody Allen's, too

Very NYC. I love that United Airlines commercial.

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

13. I love both Gershwin's and Copeland's music.

Rhapsody in Blue besides being the theme music for United Airlines always reminds me of the opening of the 1984 Summer Olympics. I'll never forget those white grand pianos rising between the columns of the LA Coliseum while playing that tune. Totally impressed me and I have loved that tune ever since.